- Enrollment
- 2,350
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Conway, AR
Ellen Smith Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Ellen Smith Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 050459000185
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ellen Smith Elementary School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Arkansas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #11 of 14
- elementary schools in Conway · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.2:1
- large classes for Arkansas
- 52.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Ellen Smith Elementary School has class sizes larger than 92% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ellen Smith Elementary School ranks #11 of 14 elementary schools in Conway, AR.
School address
District: Conway School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050459000185 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+25 students YoY
Ellen Smith Elementary School grew from 429 students in 2022-23 to 454 in 2023-24 (+5.8%).
Teacher FTE added 24.5 → 26.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+25 students YoY 050459000185 · Conway, AR Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
461 enr · 19.2:1 · 52.9% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Conway High West (2,350 students)
Ellen Smith Elementary School grew from 429 students in 2022-23 to 454 in 2023-24 (+5.8%). Teacher FTE added 24.5 → 26.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Ellen Smith Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Conway High We
Conway High West
2,350 students
- Conway Junior
Conway Junior High School
1,568 students
- Carl Stuart Mi 752
Carl Stuart Middle School
752 students
- Ruth Doyle Int 547
Ruth Doyle Intermediate School
547 students
- Carolyn Lewis 514
Carolyn Lewis Elementary School
514 students
- This school 461
Ellen Smith Elementary School
461 students
What this shows Ellen Smith Elementary School reports 461 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ellen Smith Elementary School compares
Ellen Smith Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.2:1 | ▲ 41% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.9% | ▼ 11% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 461 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
461
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% below the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 92% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
23.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,689
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,818
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 461 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 39.3%
African American 31.2%
Hispanic or Latino 20.4%
Two or More 8.0%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 39.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.0, Ellen Smith Elementary School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Conway School District reports $11,689 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ellen Smith Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conway High West | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Conway Junior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Carl Stuart Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ruth Doyle Intermediate School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Carolyn Lewis Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ellen Smith Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,568
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 752
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 547
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 514
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~461 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ellen Smith Elementary School
How many students attend Ellen Smith Elementary School?
Ellen Smith Elementary School has 461 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Conway, AR. CCD year-over-year: 429 (2022-23) → 454 (2023-24), up 25.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ellen Smith Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ellen Smith Elementary School is 19.2:1, which is 41% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ellen Smith Elementary School?
52.9% of students at Ellen Smith Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ellen Smith Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Ellen Smith Elementary School is White at 39.3% of enrollment, in Conway, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ellen Smith Elementary School?
Ellen Smith Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ellen Smith Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Conway?
By Resource Investment Index, Ellen Smith Elementary School ranks #11 of 14 elementary schools in Conway, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Conway on the city page.
What other schools are in Conway School District?
Besides Ellen Smith Elementary School, Conway School District also operates Conway High West (2,350 students), Conway Junior High School (1,568 students), and Carl Stuart Middle School (752 students). See the Conway School District district page for the complete list.